Implementation and evaluation of an interdisciplinary health professions core curriculum.

An interdisciplinary core curriculum has been implemented in the College of Health Professions at Armstrong Atlantic State University since spring 1996. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for interprofessional practice. The courses are taught by interdisciplinary teams and are offered as electives or as part of major requirements in nursing, health science, physical therapy, dental hygiene, medical technology, radiologic sciences, and respiratory therapy. In addition to ongoing evaluation methods, a survey designed to assess the student and faculty perceptions of the experience has been conducted. Both groups agreed that the experience has had a positive impact on the students' professional performances, patient interactions, understanding of the health care delivery system, and health career preparation. Faculty agreed that teaching in an interdisciplinary team was a positive experience. The collaboration among the health professions' faculty has resulted in increased respect for one another and for others' disciplines. Although the experience places an additional burden on their workload, they agreed that the experience is beneficial, their efforts are worthwhile, and they would be willing to continue to teach interdisciplinary courses.

Intraspinal devices for pain management.

Intraspinal drug delivery is one of several important pain management therapies. Numerous delivery methods and drugs are available for administration into the epidural or intrathecal space. The choice of systems and drugs is based on the nature and duration of the patient's pain, his or her other medical problems, and patient resources. Patients must be carefully selected to ensure optimal results. Nurses can assist in this screening and perform preoperative teaching, postoperative care, and long-term follow-up. Essential knowledge includes general pain management principles as well as principles of intraspinal drug delivery.

The meaning of time: Mohawk women at midlife.

Midlife has emerged as an important developmental transitional point for both men and women. For women, menopause is synonymous with midlife, and consequently women and health professionals have focused on the losses and problems of this biological event. Few studies to date have placed menopause within the context of other life experiences occurring at this time and in varied cultural groups. Eight Mohawk women, aged 45 to 54 years, were visited in their homes on a weekly or bimonthly basis spanning a 6- to 8-week period. Using a grounded theory approach, the women were encouraged to describe their experiences at this time. The four major issues experienced at midlife related to the concept of time: it is time for me, being where I should be, time for myself, and my time is spent meaningfully. Women fell into two groups. Those "in synchrony" viewed their lives as following expected time pathways. Those "out of synchrony" identified aspects of their lives as problematic. Of the four women who were out of synchrony, three were "action oriented" and the fourth was "stuck."